Publications by authors named "Sara Rao"

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) sustains microglia response to brain injury stimuli including apoptotic cells, myelin damage, and amyloid β (Aβ). Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk is associated with the variant, which impairs ligand binding and consequently microglia responses to Aβ pathology. Here, we show that TREM2 engagement by the mAb hT2AB as surrogate ligand activates microglia in 5XFAD transgenic mice that accumulate Aβ and express either the common TREM2 variant () or scRNA-seq of microglia from -5XFAD mice treated once with control hIgG1 exposed four distinct trajectories of microglia activation leading to disease-associated (DAM), interferon-responsive (IFN-R), cycling (Cyc-M), and MHC-II expressing (MHC-II) microglia types.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The mammalian transient receptor potential melastatin channel 8 (TRPM8) is highly expressed in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia. TRPM8 is activated by cold temperature or compounds that cause a cooling sensation, such as menthol or icilin. TRPM8 may play a role in cold hypersensitivity and hyperalgesia in various pain syndromes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 (TRPM8) is activated by cold temperature in vitro and has been demonstrated to act as a 'cold temperature sensor' in vivo. Although it is known that agonists of this 'cold temperature sensor', such as menthol and icilin, cause a transient increase in body temperature (Tb), it is not known if TRPM8 plays a role in Tb regulation. Since TRPM8 has been considered as a potential target for chronic pain therapeutics, we have investigated the role of TRPM8 in Tb regulation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We studied N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(4-(benzyloxy)-3-methoxybenzyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide hydrochloride (M8-B), a selective and potent antagonist of the transient receptor potential melastatin-8 (TRPM8) channel. In vitro, M8-B blocked cold-induced and TRPM8-agonist-induced activation of rat, human, and murine TRPM8 channels, including those on primary sensory neurons. In vivo, M8-B decreased deep body temperature (T(b)) in Trpm8(+/+) mice and rats, but not in Trpm8(-/-) mice, thus suggesting an on-target action.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A series of potent and selective mGluR5 antagonists were synthesized and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. It was found that a pyridyl functionality is a potential replacement for acetonitrile in the lead structure, with 2-pyridyl being most favored. Additionally, the benzoxazole moiety could also be replaced by other heterobicyclic rings such as imidazothiazole.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In the present study, we describe the characterization of a positive allosteric modulator at metabotropic glutamate subtype 2 receptors (mGluR2). N-(4-(2-Methoxyphenoxy)-phenyl-N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylsulfonyl)-pyrid-3-ylmethylamine (LY487379) is a selective positive allosteric modulator at human mGluR2 and is without activity at human mGluR3. Furthermore, LY487379 has no intrinsic agonist or antagonist activity at hmGluR2, as determined by functional guanosine 5'(gamma-[35S]thio)triphosphate ([35S]GTPgammaS) binding, single-cell Ca2+ imaging, and electrophysiological studies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The design, synthesis, and characterization of two potent, non-competitive radioligands, [3H]-methoxymethyl-MTEP and [3H]-methoxy-PEPy, that are selective for the mGlu5 receptor are described.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

2-Methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine (3), a potent noncompetitive mGlu5 receptor antagonist widely used to characterize the pharmacology of mGlu5 receptors, suffers from a number of shortcomings as a therapeutic agent, including off-target activity and poor aqueous solubility. Seeking to improve the properties of 3 led to the synthesis of compound 9, a highly selective mGlu5 receptor antagonist that is 5-fold more potent than 3 in the rat fear-potentiated startle model of anxiety.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The binding of [3H]methoxymethyl-3-[(2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)ethynyl]pyridine (methoxymethyl-MTEP), a potent and selective antagonist for metabotropic glutamate (mGlu)5 receptors, was characterized in rat brain both in vitro and in vivo. Nonspecific binding, as defined with 10 microM 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine (MPEP), was less than 10% of total binding in rat brain membranes. The binding of [3H]methoxymethyl-MTEP was of high affinity (K(d) = 20 +/- 2.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: fopen(/var/lib/php/sessions/ci_sessionjlco7msc9ettkhsfm0l2rjlshfht7k0k): Failed to open stream: No space left on device

Filename: drivers/Session_files_driver.php

Line Number: 177

Backtrace:

File: /var/www/html/index.php
Line: 316
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: session_start(): Failed to read session data: user (path: /var/lib/php/sessions)

Filename: Session/Session.php

Line Number: 137

Backtrace:

File: /var/www/html/index.php
Line: 316
Function: require_once